Actuating device for a motor vehicle brake

Abstract

An actuating device for a motor vehicle brake may include an actuating apparatus, such as a brake pedal; a pressure-supply device, such as a single- or double-stroke piston pump, which may be driven by an electromotive drive; a piston-cylinder unit actuable by the actuating apparatus, hydraulically connected to a pressure medium reservoir, and forming at least two pressure spaces connected to hydraulic brake circuits; a valve arrangement having valves for wheel-specific adjustment of brake pressures and for connecting/disconnecting the wheel brakes to/from the pressure-supply device and/or the piston-cylinder unit; and an electronic control unit. An axis of the piston-cylinder unit and an axis of the piston pump may be arranged transversely with respect to each other. The piston-cylinder unit and the pressure supply unit may be arranged in a first housing, and the electromotive drive, the first housing, the valve arrangement, and the electronic control unit may be stacked.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An actuating device for a motor vehicle brake, comprising the following components:
 an actuating apparatus, 
 a pressure-supply device configured to be driven by an electromotive drive, and which is in the form of a piston pump or a double-stroke piston pump, 
 a piston-cylinder unit configured to be actuated by the actuating apparatus and hydraulically connected to a pressure medium reservoir vessel, and which forms at least two pressure spaces which are connected to hydraulic brake circuits, 
 a valve arrangement having valves arranged for wheel-specific adjustment of brake pressures and for disconnecting or connecting the wheel brakes to or from the pressure supply device and/or the piston-cylinder unit, and 
 an electronic control unit (ECU), 
 
       wherein a longitudinal axis of the piston-cylinder unit and a longitudinal axis of the piston pump or double-stroke piston pump of the pressure supply unit are arranged transversely with respect to one another, 
       wherein the piston-cylinder unit and the pressure supply unit are arranged in a first housing and the valves of the valve arrangement are contained within a second housing, wherein the electromotive drive, the first housing, the second housing and the electronic control unit are arranged stacked one on top of the other, in a stacking direction, to form a stack, and 
       wherein the longitudinal axis of the piston-cylinder unit is arranged transversely with respect to the stacking direction and the longitudinal axis of the pressure supply device is arranged parallel to the stacking direction, wherein the stacking direction is arranged vertically or at an angle of 5° to 30° with respect to vertical. 
     
     
       2. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromotive drive is arranged below the first housing and the second housing is arranged above the first housing, wherein the electronic control unit is arranged above the second housing. 
     
     
       3. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromotive drive is arranged above the first housing and the second housing is arranged below the first housing, wherein the electronic control unit is arranged below the second housing. 
     
     
       4. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein a part of the electronic control unit is arranged laterally next to the pressure supply device, the piston-cylinder unit and/or the second housing. 
     
     
       5. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein housings in which the piston-cylinder unit, the pressure supply unit, the valves in the valve arrangement and the electronic control unit are arranged together to have a height that is 2 to 4 times as large as a width of the housings. 
     
     
       6. The actuating device according to  claim 5 , wherein at least a subset of the housings in which the piston-cylinder unit, the pressure supply unit, the valves in the valve arrangement and the electronic control unit together form a level side wall that is arranged facing parallel to at least one electronic component of the vehicle. 
     
     
       7. The actuating device according to  claim 1  wherein the housings in which the piston-cylinder unit, the pressure supply unit, the valves in the valve arrangement and the electronic control unit together in cross-section comprise a substantially rectangular form, wherein cross-sectional plane defining the cross-section runs parallel to a level of a bulkhead of a motor compartment of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       8. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the piston pump or double-stroke piston pump of the pressure supply device extends out from the first housing into the second housing. 
     
     
       9. The actuating device according to  claim 8 , wherein at least certain magnet valves in the valve arrangement are arranged laterally next to an end area of the piston pump or double-stroke piston pump of the pressure supply device. 
     
     
       10. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein axes of at least certain or all solenoid valve armatures in the valve arrangement are arranged parallel to or at an angle of less than 45° with respect to the stacking direction. 
     
     
       11. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein a housing of the electronic control unit in cross-section is rectangular, L-shaped or U-shaped. 
     
     
       12. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure medium reservoir vessel is arranged either completely above, completely next to or above and laterally next to the stack. 
     
     
       13. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein coils of certain or all solenoid valves in the valve arrangement are arranged in the electronic control unit, wherein armatures of the associated solenoid valves in the valve arrangement are comprised of the coils. 
     
     
       14. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein further solenoid valves and pressure sensors are arranged in the second housing unit. 
     
     
       15. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is arranged in a further housing unit that sits directly on the second housing unit and is connected to the second housing unit. 
     
     
       16. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure medium reservoir vessel is mounted laterally next to the first housing unit and the second housing unit, as well as the electronic control unit, and is connected with a suction inlet of the pressure supply unit. 
     
     
       17. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein a mounting flange to mount the actuating device to an end wall of a vehicle is provided on the first housing unit. 
     
     
       18. The actuating device according to  claim 17 , wherein a part made from noise-reducing material elements is arranged between a part of the actuating device and the flange. 
     
     
       19. The actuating device according to  claim 17 , wherein the flange is connected to a bulkhead of the vehicle by means of an adapter part and a sound-damping element. 
     
     
       20. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein a screw connection is screwed from a front or a side and the other sides are screwed behind. 
     
     
       21. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least sensor evaluation elements of pedal stroke sensors are arranged in and connected to the electronic control unit, and wherein at least one sensor target, in the form of a solenoid, is arranged <5 mm away from a sensor evaluation element. 
     
     
       22. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein sensor actuations of pedal stroke sensors are arranged in the first or second housing unit, and movement of a brake pedal and a motor rotor is transmitted to a target, and wherein an evaluation element of the pedal stroke sensors is arranged on a printed circuit board in the electronic control unit. 
     
     
       23. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to evaluate a signal of a leakage sensor, which is formed by an electrode or comprises an electrode. 
     
     
       24. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein a sensor configured to measure fluid level in the pressure medium reservoir vessel is connected to a printed circuit board. 
     
     
       25. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein a connection element to connect to an electrical system of the vehicle is mounted laterally next to the electronic control unit or on a front side of the electronic control unit. 
     
     
       26. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein connections for hydraulic connection to the wheel brakes are arranged on a front side of the second housing unit. 
     
     
       27. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein actuation of a sensor target is performed via a rack and pinion. 
     
     
       28. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein redundant pedal stroke sensors are actuated by means of gear racks which are connected to a brake pedal or a piston plate. 
     
     
       29. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein a motor housing, a housing of the valve arrangement, or the first housing unit comprises an extension in order to catch leakage fluid, wherein a sensor to sense the leakage fluid is provided in the extension. 
     
     
       30. The actuating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second housing units are made of various materials, wherein the material of the first housing unit has good bearing properties and the material of the second housing unit has good cold-forming properties, in order to mount a solenoid valve and a pressure sensor. 
     
     
       31. An actuating device for a motor vehicle brake, comprising the following components:
 an actuating apparatus, 
 a pressure-supply device configured to be driven by an electromotive drive, and which is in the form of a piston pump or a double-stroke piston pump, 
 a piston-cylinder unit configured to be actuated by the actuating apparatus and hydraulically connected to a pressure medium reservoir vessel, and which forms at least two pressure spaces which are connected to hydraulic brake circuits, 
 a valve arrangement having valves arranged for wheel-specific adjustment of brake pressures and for disconnecting or connecting the wheel brakes to or from the pressure supply device and/or the piston-cylinder unit, and 
 an electronic control unit (ECU), 
 
       wherein a longitudinal axis of the piston-cylinder unit and a longitudinal axis of the piston pump or double-stroke piston pump of the pressure supply unit are arranged transversely with respect to one another, 
       wherein the piston-cylinder unit and the pressure supply unit are arranged in a first housing, 
       wherein the electromotive drive, the first housing, the valve arrangement and the electronic control unit are arranged stacked one on top of the other, in a stacking direction, to form a stack, and 
       wherein the longitudinal axis of the piston-cylinder unit is arranged transversely with respect to the stacking direction and the longitudinal axis of the pressure supply device is arranged parallel to the stacking direction, wherein the stacking direction is arranged vertically or at an angle of 5° to 30° with respect to vertical, 
       wherein actuation of a sensor target is performed via a rack and pinion, and wherein a play adjustor is provided on the rack and pinion, which comprises an elastic shaft.